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Pleural Effusion

★ Objectives: ​ 1-Focus on Clinical presentation and examination. 2-Focus on Initial test (CXR then Thoracocentesis). 3- What could be the causes of in terms of: CHF, SLE, Empyema and Parapneumonic effusion. 4- You need to know the Light’s criteria and based on it you classify patients into transudative and exudative.

★ Resources Used in This lecture:

Slides, Davidson’s, Kumar, Step-up, Master the boards, Kaplan and Class notes ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

Done by:: Sarah N. AlJasser & Moneera AlDraihem. Contact us at: [email protected] ​ ​ Revised by: Nouf Almasoud

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What is Pleura? Serous fluid that allows for the parietal pleura (outer lining) and visceral ​ ​ pleura (inner lining) to glide1 over each other without separation. ● Contains about 5-15 ml of fluid at one time. ● Fluid is produced by parietal pleura ⇒ absorbed by visceral pleura ⇒ Drained into lymphatics ⇒ To . ● About 100-200 ml of fluid circulates through the pleural space in 24h.

Pleural effusion: is an excessive accumulation of serous fluid in ​ ​ the pleural space. It can be detected by plain chest x-ray when there is ​ more than 300 ml present. ​ ​ ​ ​The primary cause of a pleural effusion is simply an imbalance between the fluid production and fluid removal in the pleural space. Generally, by one of the following mechanisms: 1- Increased drainage of fluid into pleural space. ​ ​ 2- Increased production of fluid by cells in the pleural space. 3- Decreased drainage of fluid from the pleural space. ​ ​

★ Types: Video ​ ​ Transudative pleural effusion Exudative pleural effusion

1. Increased hydrostatic pressure: elevated ​ ​ 1. Increased permeability of the pleural surfaces. capillary pressure in visceral or parenteral ​ ​ 2. Decreased lymphatic flow from the pleural Due pleura (CHF) to.. ​ space because of damage of pleural membranes 2. Decreased plasma oncotic pressure or vasculature. (hypoalbuminemia → nephrotic syndrome.)

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★ Causes:

Transudative pleural effusion Exudative pleural effusion Think BIG ORGANS!

HEART: Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) ​ left-sided heart failure → increase in the hydrostatic pressure of the Infection: → → vasculature leakage of fluid only in the pleural space 1. Bacterial pneumonia ”parapneumonic pleural transudative pleural effusion. ​ effusion”. RENAL: Nephrotic Syndrome 2. Tuberculosis (TB) Hypoalbuminemia​ ⇒ Decreased plasma oncotic pressure.

LIVER: Chronic Liver disease (ex: Cirrhosis with Inflammatory: ​ ​ ​ ascites) movement of ascitic fluid from the peritoneal cavity into -Collagen Vascular Disease: (SLE, Rheumatoid Arthritis) ​ ​ 2 ​ ​ the pleural space through diaphragmatic defects . -Pancreatitis

Drugs: Hydralazine, Cimetidine, THYROID: Hypothyroidism ​ ​ Methotrexate (very common)

Malignancy & Metastatic disease: ​ #1 : Lung Malignancy. (36%) ​ ​ Hypoalbuminemia Metastatic: Decreased plasma oncotic pressure. Lymphoma (10%) Hypoalbuminemia can be caused by various conditions, including In Females: Breast . (25%) nephrotic syndrome, hepatic cirrhosis, heart failure, and ​ ​ ​ In Male: adrenal (NOT PROSTATE). malnutrition ​ *USMLE Question: Where’s the most common site for pleural metastasis in male? Ans: adrenal

Atelectasis (Lung Collapse) Idiopathic

Pulmonary Embolism

Ovarian fibroma causes right-sided pleural effusion (Meigs’ Pulmonary Embolism (more common) Syndrome) ​ ​

Peritoneal dialysis Viral Infection ● Collectively the most common causes of pleural effusion are: ​ ​ 1. CHF most common cause 2. Pneumonia (bacterial) 3. Malignancies 4. Pulmonary embolism 5. Viral diseases 6. Cirrhosis with ascites

2 Alonso, Jose Castellote. "Pleural effusion in liver disease." Seminars in respiratory and critical care medicine. Vol. 31. No. 06. © Thieme Medical Publishers, 2010.

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★ Clinical Features: Symptoms: Often asymptomatic. ​ ​ 1. Symptoms of pleural effusion: a. Pleuritic chest pain, cough ”pain in ”, dyspnea on exertion. 2. Symptoms of the underlying cause: a. Peripheral edema, orthopnea, paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea. Signs: ● Asymmetrical chest wall movement → reduced in affected side. ● Trachea will shift away from the affected side. ● Reduced vocal resonance/tactile fremitus.

● Percussion: stony dullness. ​ ​ ● Auscultation: absent/decreased vesicular breath sounds. ● Palpation of apex beat → if the effusion was on the left side apex beat will be shifted. ● Mediastinum shifted away.

★ Diagnosis: How to diagnose pleural effusion? ​ ​ 1- History 2- Physical examination → ​&​ ​ ​gives 85% of diagnosis. 3- Chest x-ray: Initial diagnostic test for pleural effusion. ​ ​ ● Postero-anterior and lateral look for: blunting of ​ costophrenic angle. About 250 mL of pleural fluid must ​ accumulate before an effusion can be detected. ● Lateral decubitus films (patient lying on one side) are more ​ reliable for detecting small pleural effusions, with the new ​ ​ ​ technology even (10 ml) of fluid is detected. 4-Ultrasound: What are the advantages of ultrasound? More sensitive and ​ ​ specific and it can detect minimal fluid. ● It will help you to rule out others like and ​ ​ fluid collection.

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5- CT scan: (when there is malignant suspicion). ​ ​ More reliable than CXR for detecting effusions. ​ What’s the indication for CT in pleural effusion? ● For additional information about parenchymal lung or mediastinum like more consolidation or masses. 6- Thoracocentesis: It’s aspiration of fluid. ​ Provides diagnosis in 75% of patients and therapeutic ​ ​ ​ ​ as it provides relief for large effusions. *After you get the fluid send fluid for CBC, , LDH, glucose, gram stain, and cytology. THE 5 C’s

1. Cytology: to tell you if there’s malignancy or not. ​ ​ 2. Culture: for diagnosis of ​ ​ a. Parapneumonic effusion b. Empyema c. TB 3. Cell count: ​ ​ a. Neutrophils → Parapneumonic and Empyema ​ b. Lymphocytes → Malignancy, TB, Connective tissue disease. ​ c. Eosinophils → Lymphatic obstruction, Fungal Infection, Drugs (FYI). ​ 4. Color: ​ a. Red : ​ Blood (Hemorrhagic effusion): Malignancy, TB, Connective tissue disease. b. White: ​ Lymphatic obstruction: Lymphoma, Thoracic duct injury, Chylothorax. c. Turbid3 Pneumonia (Parapneumonic effusion) d. Yellow “most common color” ​ Any of the mentioned causes above can cause yellow, but the most common cause is CHF → because of .

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e. Black. f. Purulent ( white mixed with greenish color) → Pus → Empyema. ​ What’s Empyema? Pus within the pleural space. ​ ​ Empyema : Complicated parapneumonic effusion, which means the pleural effusion is ​ infected.

Causes 1. Exudative Pleural effusions. 2. Complication of bacterial pneumonia.

Clinical features ● Clinical features of the underlying disease (pneumonia most common).

Diagnosis ● CXR and CT scan of Chest.

Treatment 1. Drainage and antibiotic therapy. 2. Recurrence is common → repeated drainage. 3. If severe and persistent → rib resection and open drainage.

5. Chemistry: For certain test to minimize your DDX. ​ ​ ​ g. PH → low in empyema. ​ h. Glucose → low in infections and malignancies. ​ i. Proteins. ​ In chemistry you need to know 2 important things to get Light’s criteria:LDH and Protein. ​ ​ ​ ​ Light’s Criteria: “Determination of transudate versus exudate source of pleural effusion” ​ There are 3 items, you need 1 and the third one kick it out because it’s the Same as the second one. 1. Protein in pleural effusion / Protein in > 0.5 ​ 2. LHD in pleural effusion / LHD in serum > o.6 ​ 3. LDH > two-thirds the upper limit of normal serum LDH. ● Exudative effusion meet at least one of the previous criterias. ​ ● Transudative have none of these! ​

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★ SUMMARY:

Cause Appearance of fluid Type of fluid Predominant cells

Tb Serous Exudate Lymphocytes

Malignancy Serous +/- blood-stained Exudate Serosal cells and lymphocytes

Cardiac Failure Serous Transudate Few serosal cells

Pulmonary Infarction Serous or blood stained Exudate mainly RBC’s, eosinophils

Obstruction of Milky Chyle None thoracic duct

★ Treatment (treat underlying cause): ​ ​ 1- Transudative effusion: ● Diuretics and sodium restriction. ​ ​ ● Therapeutic (in massive effusion). 2- Exudative effusion: treat underlying cause. 3- Parapneumonic effusions (pleural effusion in the presence of pneumonia) - Uncomplicated: antibiotics alone. - Complicated or empyema: ● drainage and antibiotics. ​ ​ ● Intrapleural injection of thrombolytic agents (streptokinase or urokinase); may accelerate the drainage. ● Surgical lysis of adhesions may be required.

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MCQs 1. A patient came presented with SOB, pleuritic chest pain, cough, joints pain, malar rash, oral ulcer and hair loss. What is the cause of the pleural effusion? A. Pneumonia B. CHF C. SLE 2. A patient presented with SOB, pleuritic chest pain, cough, orthopnea, palpitation and lower limb swelling. What is the cause of the pleural effusion? A. Pneumonia B. CHF C. SLE 3. A lady came in with SOB, Pleuritic Chest pain. On examination you found stony dullness, trachea shifted to the right side and CXR showed fluid in the pleural space of the left lung. What is the diagnosis? A. Lung mass. B. Pneumonia. C. Pneumothorax. D. Pleural effusion. 4. A 36 years old lady presented with fever, cough, yellowish sputum she went to Salamatic Hospital they gave her antibiotics for 3 days but no improvement, she came after 6 days with pleuritic chest pain, SOB on examination classical signs of pleural effusion, the CXR done for her showed right sided pleural effusion, thoracentesis is done and showed pus. What’s the most likely diagnosis? A. Pneumonia. B. Viral pneumonia. C. Heart Failure. D. SLE. E. Empyema. Answers: 1.C, 2.B, 3.D, 4.E ​

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